Beats Per Week

Portland's Best Dance Music Options, July 31-August 6

Tags:

Waxing is Tuesday at Rotture with Cyclist, Pat Lok, Karl Kling and more.

In this column, WW music calendar editor and contributing writer Mitch Lillie helps the discerning club-goer put together their weekly calendar by compiling Portland's best dance-music options for the next seven days. Turn up, tune in, drop the bass.

You may not have a wristband for the Northwest House Music Conference—though having one gets you into some pretty rad workshops and VIP pool parties—but that doesn’t mean you should miss out on Portland’s underground four-on-the-floor fest. Though many of the events are worthwhile, I’ve rounded up the best of each weekend day for your jacking pleasure.

Thursday:
After a brilliant run as a part of house duo Jacob London, Seattle’s Dave Pezzner decided to branch out independently. His solo work as Pezzner is all over the beautiful, textural map of chill dance music.
The Rose Bar, 9 pm, $10 or wristband, 21+

Friday:
SF’s Om Records’—among many others—affiliates take over both levels of the Analog, with funky house selector Heather playing Upstairs and straight tech master Rithma downstairs.
The Analog, 9 pm, $30 or wristband, 21+
Saturday:
A mainstay of second-wave Chicago house, Diz is more connected to the scene than Kevin Bacon, and a much better spinner to boot.
Crush Bar, 8 pm, $20 or wristband, 21+

Elsewhere:
Being a third responsible for the year’s most wasted club jam is impressive enough. But J-Cush, a member of Future Brown alongside Nguzunguzu and Fatima Al Qadiri, has got much more in store for Holocene on Friday, namely footwork and grime with some ghetto house and hip hop to keep the pace. (9 pm, $5, 21+)

On Friday, STYLSS brings Soundcloud-famous artists Sweater Beats and Lil Sad to Rotture. Catchy R&B and emotional trap music will make sure the feels will be there, but will you? This is the first time Lil Sad’s music will be exposed to people without the mediation of Internet screens, so don’t forget your SSRIs! (9 pm, $10, 21+)

To any 60s babies out there, any disco may not seem that left field. But when it’s got a stamp bearing the name Mani/Pedi Records, Karl Kling and Cyclist’s newborn label apparently inspired by day spas, there’s gotta be something weird about it. A new monthly on Tuesday at Rotture, Waxing will let that disco weirdness bubble up. (9 pm, $5, 21+)